Track-laying machine.



J. R. McGIFFERT.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3h 1914.

1 177,785 Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLAPIJOGRAPH cg, WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. R. McGIFFERT.

TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.31, 1914.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

z .m, m m m i N W 0 E R dfl m a 96 M 4% 7 TOE/V6345 mu COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, \VA5IHNGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. MGGIFFERT, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T0 CLYDE IRON WORKS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TRACK-LAYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1914. Serial No. 879,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. MoGirrnn'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Duluth, county of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Track-Laying Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as todistinguish it from other inventions.

The subject of the present invention is a machine for laying track and is intended particularly for use in wooded country where a temporary track is used for hauling the logs. In such operations there is usually a main track and numerous spurs which run laterally from the main track at intervals of from 600 to 2000 feet and as but a few spurs are necessary at a time, the most rearward spur is usually at once taken up when that section has been cleared and is relaid at the forward end of the line. It is for such work that the present machine is particularly adapted and is provided with means for laying track on curves, as is particularly desirable under such conditions as it is usually impossible to lay a straight track for any distance. Furthermore, the present apparatus is constructed to handle ties s'ufiicient for a standard rail length at one time and is also adapted to handle both ties and rail at a single operation. In addition to these advantages the machine is designed to not only lay but also properly space the ties so that once the ties are disposed on the ground it is only necessary to place the rails thereon at the suitable gage and to then spike the same to the ties.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then con sists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :-Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine; Flg. 2 1s a plan new of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the machine in a different operative posirights 3 which are connected at their tops by transverse beams 4. The uprights are connected together by longitudinally extending members 5, and the whole frame is braced by suitable diagonal braces or angle irons 6 as indicated'in Figs. 1 and 3. V

The transverse beams 4 are preferably in V the form of channels and to their under side are suitably attached two longitudinally ex- Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

tending I-beams 7 Such parallel I-beams form a track or way and upon the inwardly extending flanges of such beams are mounted two trolleys or carriages consisting of wheels or rollers 8, connected by axles 9. -Such axles and wheels are placed in pairs each pair forming a trolley and are maintained ,in such relation by diagonal braces or struts 10. There are two ofthese trolleys, each having four rollers or wheels as indicated in Fig. 1 and upon the axles 9 there are rotatably mounted pulleys or sheaves 11 overwhich pass suitable cables 12.

Below the two. trolleys or carriages, described above, is mounted a suitable frame or second carriage, consisting of longitudinally extending I-beams 13 connected together by transverse beams 1 1. In order to stiffen the frame, various braces of different sorts are also employed, but need not be described in detail. Upon the transverse beams 14 of the second carriage are mounted sheaves 15 and about these sheaves are passed the cables 12. The operation of these cables will be described in detail hereafter but it will be evident that by means of these cables the second frame may be raised or lowered.

Mounted upon the external lower flanges of the longitudinal I-beams 13 are a plurality of wheels or rollers 16 of which there are preferably 14. These rollers 16 are flexibly connected together by means ofshort chains 17, such chains being so dimensioned that the rollers when separated as much as possible are exactly two feet apart, thus corresponding to the distance between centers of the ties in standard track laying practice (see F ig. 1). The last set of the rollers 16 are similarly connected by means of short chains 18 to the I-beams 13.

To each of the rollers 16 are attached flexible connecting elements, such for example as chains 19, provided at their lower ends with grappling hooks 20 which may be fastened in the ends of a tie. The forward pair of the rollers 16 are attached to a cable 21 which passes over sheaves 22 and and is operated by suitable mechanism connected to a winding drum2 l, over which the cable also passes. To suitably disposed, transversely extending beams 25 Fig. 5 are attached chains 26 of suflicient length to pass over forks 27 at the ends of such beams, such chains being provided at their lower extremities with clamps or grappling hooks 28 adapted to engage the head of a rail 29 as illustrated in Fig. 5. These chains, when thus passed over the forks on the end of the I-beams, hold the rails at the side and beyond the ends of the ties.

The ties are of greater length than the width between the rollers 16 and hence exert a tipping influence on such elements which tends to tilt the rollers about the I-beams, and this tendency is resisted by means of connected rods or braces 30 extending between the oppositely positioned rollers.

It is necessary to provide an extension from the main frame upon which the carriage may be moved in order to place the ties and rails at the proper point beyond the main track, and I provide such an extension consisting of two longitudinally extending channels or I-beams 31 of thesame character as the way or track already described in the main frame, such extension channels being alined with the main channels 7 in order that the carriages may move smoothly thereonto. Such extension cl1annels are of course suitably connected together and braced, and are provided at their outer ends with converging members for the purpose of forming an A-boom or frame for receiving pulleys for cables to operate the main and secondary trolleys or carriages. Upon the forward end of the main frame, there is mounted an A-boom 32 suitably braced by rods 33 and the extension channels 31 are supported from the top of this A-boom by means of braces 34.

As has already been explained, it is highly desirable in a machine adapted for the present purpose, to lay track on a curve at times, and for this purpose I have pivoted the extension way or frame 31' about a pin or block 35 mounted in the upper portion of the main frame and have cut the ends of the longitudinal I-beams 7 and 31 so that the extension may be swung without V friction between the ends of the channels and yet such ends are in close contact when the extension is in the alined or normal position. The line of cutting of such channels is therefore taken on a circumference drawn from the axis (the pin 35) of the extension. The extension 31 is providedat. its rear end with a transverse channel 36,

to one end of which is attached a jointed rod 37 adapted to be operated in any suit- T able manner to swing the extension about a pivotal block 1n the main frame. Such rod is provided with a notch 38 which in the forward end of the lower trackway or carriage, from which the cable extends in either direction, passing over sheaves 22 and 23, as already described, and passing over a central winding drum 24. Operatlon of this winding drum in one direction draws the carriage outwardly into the position illustrated in Fig. 8, while operation in the other direction returns the carriage to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3. Since the various pairs of rollers on the lower carriage are flexibly connected by means of chains only, and have the rear pair permanently attached to the carriage, it will be evident that continued operation of the carriage drum in'either direction, either spaces the rollers as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 or brings them into close connection as indicated in full lines in that figure.

In order to raise or lower the ties and rails which are carried by the lower carriage, cables 12 are provided, passing over the various sheaves as already described, each of such cables extending forwardly from the forward trolley and passing overra sheave 50, then over a second sheave 51 placed on an A-boom and down to winding drum 52. The rear ends of the cables 12 are attached to the rear transverse beam of the frame as indicated at 53. As the rear end of such two cables 12 are permanently attached, rotation of the drum 52 in one direction will pull in these cables, thus raising the lower carriage into the position indicated in Figs. 3 and ,5. It will be understood that any suitable source of power may be employed for operating the winding drums 2 4: and 52, and, I have indicated, for illustration only, a steam cylinder 54 connected to drive the shafts'on which these winding drums are placed, the steam cylinder being supplied with steam from any suitable source.

Two cables 12 are used on each side, one passing over the sheaves 11 and 15 on the r'earmost trolley and the other passing idly over the rearmost trolley and operatively engaging the sheaves on the foremost trolleys. Thus, there are in all four cables 12, two on each side of the frame, but all serving the same purpose, that of raising and lowering the frame or carriage 13. The double winding sheaves 52 for handling these cables are shown in Fig. 4:-

In order to maintain the trolleys on the upper guideway in the proper spaced relation, when the lower carriage has been raised I provide depending engaging arms 56 adapted to extend on either side of the beam on which the sheaves 9 are attached when the lower carriage is raised, as will be seen from Fig. 3.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that a load of ties and rails have been piled upon the fiat car 1 in the manner indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, with the rails at either side and the ties between the same, the lower carriage or frame is first moved into the position shown in full lines in said figure. It is then lowered suiiiciently to permit of each pair of chains 19 being attached to the ends of the single tie. The chains 26 are then passed over the forks 27 and are thus in a position outside of the ties, so that each of these chains may engage, by means of the grappling hook 28, a rail. The lower carriage is then raised slightly and is moved to its outer position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, where the rails and the ties will be just beyond the end of the track which has already been laid. The ties and rails are then lowered to the ground, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the chains are remued from the ties. By reason of the length of the short connecting chains between the various pairs of rollers the ties are placed in the proper spaced positions and are parallel to each other. It is therefore only necessary to remove the chains 26 from the forks 27 and to raise the carriage to bring the rails lation over the ties. The rails are then lowered onto the ties and spiked, and another section of track is complete. In taking up track the reverse of this operation is performed. The spikes are first pulled and the carriage is then lowered so that the chains 26 may be attached to the rails, being first passed over the forks 27, so that upon raising the carriage the rails will be brought to either side of the ties. The carriage is then lowered, placing the rails at either side of the ties, and the tie-engaging hooks are used for attachment to various ties upon which the rail was supported. IVhen the into their proper spaced rechains have been attached to all of the ties and the rails the carriage is lifted and is run in over the surface of the flat car, when it is lowered and the ties and rails are piled upon the car as indicated in Fig. 3.

The particular advantage of the present machine is its ability to lay track on curves and to handle the ties for an entire rail section at one time and in one operation. An additional advantage is the construction of the machine in such a way that it may be mounted upon a standard fiat car which will of course be propelled by a suitable locomotive from which steam will be obtained for the operation of the steam cylinder which drives various winding drums. It is considered unnecessary to describe the action of the machine in laying track on curves, since the construction of the extension has been described in detail, and it will be obvious that once the carriage is run outbeneath the extension, as indicated in Fig. 3 for example, the extension can then be swung to each side to lay the track at the desired angle of curvature of the track up to that point.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed,

provided the means stated by anyof the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, means borne by said carriage and adapted to engage a plurality of separate ties, and means adapted to move said carriage along said way.

2. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, flexibly connected engaging elements borne by said carriage, each of said elements being adapted to engage a separate tie, and means adapted to move said carriage along said way.

3. In a track-laying machine the combination of an elevated way, a carriagemovable therealong, a plurality of rollers movably mounted on said carriage and flexibly connected to each other and to the rear end of said carriage, means borne by said rollers for engaging a plurality of ties and two rails, and means adapted to move said rollers along said carriage and to move said carriage.

4. In a track-laying machine the combination of'an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, a plurality of rollers movably mounted on said carriage and flexibly connected to each other and to the rear end of said carriage,-means borne by said rollers for engaging a plurality of ties and two rails, and a cable attached to the forward end of said rollers and adapted, upon being wound in, to first space said rollers and to thereafter move said carriage along said y 5. In a track-laying machine the combination of an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, a track-way borne by said carriage, flexibly connected tie engaging elements movably attached to said track-way, means adapted to gather and to space said elements longitudinally of said track-way for piling and laying ties respectively, said means being also adapted to move said carriage along said way in either direction, and other means adapted to raise and lower said carriage.

6. In a track-laying machine the combination of an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, a track-way borne by said carriage, a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said track-way, the rear-most pair of said rollers being flexibly attached to the rear end of said track-way, flexible connections between said other pairs of rollers, tie and rail engaging elements attached to each pair of said rollers, a cable attached to the foremost pair of said rollers, said cable then passing over said way and being again attached to the foremost pairof said rollers, and means for operating said cable, thereby initially spacing said rollers and then moving said carriage along said way.

7. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an elevated way, a carriage movable therealong, a track-Way borne by said carriage, a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on said track-way, the rear-most pair of rollers being flexibly attached to the rear end of said track-way, flexible connections between said pairs of rollers, said connections being of a length adapted when taut, to space said rollers at the same distance as the distances between ties in a track, flexible tie-engaging means attached to each of said pairs of rollers, a cable attached to the foremost pair of said rollers, said cable then passing over said extension and being again attached to said foremost pair of rollers, and means for operating said cable, thereby initially spacing said rollers and then moving said carriage along said way.

8. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an elevated way, an extension way pivoted thereto and normally alined therewith, a carriage movable along said way and said extension and provided with tie and rail engaging elements, and means adapted to swing said extension.

9. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an elevated way, an extension way pivoted thereto about a vertical axis and normally alined therewith, a carriage movable along said way and said extension and provided with tie and rail engaging elearass ments, and means adapted to swing said extension.

10. In a track-laying machine, the'cornbination of'an elevated way, a carriagemovable along said way and provided with tie and rail engaging elements, said carriage being longer than the length of a standard rail, means adapted to space said tie engaging elements on said carriage at the same distances that such ties would be spaced when laid, an extension way pivotally attached to said first-named way and normally alined therewith, said extension way being longer than the length of said carriage and means adapted to swing said extension when said carriage has been moved thereonto.

11. In a track-laying machine, the combi- V nation of an elevated way, and extension.

way pivoted thereto and normally alined therewith, a carriage movablealong said way and said extension and provided with tie and rail engaging elements, means adapted to normally lock sald extension 1n alinement with said first-named Way, and other means adapted to swing said extension upon w the release of said locking means. 7

12. In a track-laying machine, the combinatlon of an elevated way, an extension way pivoted thereto and normally alined there,

with, a carriage movable along said way and said extension and provided with tie and rail engaging elements, a jointed lever attached to said extension and provided with a slot, a latch normally engaging in such slot and thereby maintaining said extension 1n almement with said first-named way, and,

said way for movement of said carriage beyond said frame.

14. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an open, hollow frame adapted to be mounted upon a standard flat car, an elevated way in said frame, a carriage movable therealong, means borne by said carriage for engaging a plurality of ties and rails, and an extension pivotally attached to said way and normally alined therewith for movement of said frame. 7

15. In a track-laying machine, thecombination of an open, hollow frame adapted to be mounted upon a standard flat car, an elevated way in said frame, a carriage movable therealong. meansborne by said car,- ria'ge for engaging a plurality of ties, said means being adapted to be gathered into carriage beyond said" such relation that such ties may be piled side by side on said car, and other means borne by said carriage for engaging two rails and depositing said rails one on either side of said ties on said car.

16. In a track-laying machine, the combination of an open, hollow frame adapted to be mounted upon a standard fiat car, an elevated way in said frame, a carriage movable therealong, means borne by said carriage for engaging all of the ties used beneath a rail of standard length, said means Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the being adapted to be gathered into such relation that such ties may be piled side by side on said car, and other means borne by said carriage for engaging two rails and depositing said rails one on either side of such ties on said car.

Signed by me, this 26 day of December JOHN R. MGGIFFERT. Attested by:

J. J. LUMM, AGNES ANnERsEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

